Highest and best use- Jobs, Visitors, Revenue.
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I suppose you could shoehorn this into the recreation category, if each store gave the hourly female mudwrestling winner a 25% discount on the item of her choice. The admission fee for spectators would pay for construction costs. 
I think TVA has a caveat that would prohibit an outlet mall on this property. Not a very good use for lake front property, outlet mall could go on any commercial property and succeed.
I think an outlet mall would be great for Florence. Out off Cox Creek past CVS would be a nice spot.
a Outlet mall would be great, but not in a nice city park.
I say bring back the Bass Pro Shop and put it there.
I would imagine a lot of people in Florence want these shopping centers and stuff, but.. when I'm in Florence, I see a fairly dead 70s mall, a Target that usually has way less people than I see in other Targets, a nearly dead Kmart, a slow economy in general.. Who is going to shop at this outlet mall? When it doesn't actually happen, that will be why.
We are seeing record numbers of retailers filing for bankruptcy and Florence wants... more retail??
quote:Originally posted by joeycuda:
I see a fairly dead 70s mall, a Target that usually has way less people than I see in other Targets, a nearly dead Kmart, a slow economy in general.
I agree. I also believe that Regency Mall will eventually become another SouthGate Mall.
Look at the articles in the paper over the last several days about the hospitals and now Norfolk Southern. I don't think it would be allowed to happen, but how many jobs in the Shoals would be lost if ECM/ECM East/Shoals or Keller went "belly up"? Scary thought! Railroad cutting 84 jobs (some of which can go other places based on seniority). Mortgages would have to be paid before shopping at outlet malls.
If this all keeps up, Florence will ending looking like Pripyat, Ukraine, the abandoned city near the Chernobyl nuclear plant. Ok..that's exaggerating a bit.
quote:Originally posted by weatherwatcher:
a Outlet mall would be great, but not in a nice city park.
I think they should put it in one of the numerous vacant buildings around town.
You don't want a mall in your town!
I hate malls. They are pieces of crap. They are built crappily and stores rarely last.
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
Now every mullet for miles comes to gawk at a bunch of fish in a pond and buy boots. And then they leave town the same day, and here I am residing permanently near a place that I can no longer enjoy..
The former Oprylanders are left with the ghost of "what might have been".
If Opryland still existed, I could ride my bike there. I would have season passes for my whole family and be there every afternoon and weekend.
Instead I drive to the next town to shop because I HATE Opry Mills with a freaking passion. The stores suck and the parking is even worse.
Don't ever ever say you want to bulldoze a city, state, or national park just to charge up a bunch of useless clothing made in China or India and pay for it at 28 percent interest.
Florence and the Shoals should attract tourists for exactly what they are. A small quaint town wwith a legendary musical past and present, with rivers and lakes for fishing, and with nice people and NO HUSSLE and BUSSLE of city life.
I'm just sayin'
Opry Mills sucks. Tanger Outlet would suck even worse. If you want a sucky mall, at least put it somewhere logical and not in a park or near something historical or important to your community.
Maybe put it near a landfill. Because it will stink!
I hate malls. They are pieces of crap. They are built crappily and stores rarely last.
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
Now every mullet for miles comes to gawk at a bunch of fish in a pond and buy boots. And then they leave town the same day, and here I am residing permanently near a place that I can no longer enjoy..
The former Oprylanders are left with the ghost of "what might have been".
If Opryland still existed, I could ride my bike there. I would have season passes for my whole family and be there every afternoon and weekend.
Instead I drive to the next town to shop because I HATE Opry Mills with a freaking passion. The stores suck and the parking is even worse.
Don't ever ever say you want to bulldoze a city, state, or national park just to charge up a bunch of useless clothing made in China or India and pay for it at 28 percent interest.
Florence and the Shoals should attract tourists for exactly what they are. A small quaint town wwith a legendary musical past and present, with rivers and lakes for fishing, and with nice people and NO HUSSLE and BUSSLE of city life.
I'm just sayin'
Opry Mills sucks. Tanger Outlet would suck even worse. If you want a sucky mall, at least put it somewhere logical and not in a park or near something historical or important to your community.
Maybe put it near a landfill. Because it will stink!
quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means:
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
I agree!!! My family loved Opryland!!!!
We still to this day miss it.
Dollywood doesn't even run a close
second!!
What they actually need to put out at Veterans Parks is something like a VBCC, maybe not as big but a place for concerts, they can do weigh in's for fishing tourneys and host other events. It would be a major revenue gain for the city. No waterpark no mall, AND NO BASS PRO that is the last thing we need here!!!
quote:Originally posted by semiannualchick:quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means:
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
I agree!!! My family loved Opryland!!!!
We still to this day miss it.
Dollywood doesn't even run a close
second!!
...but with Opryland gone, Dollywood is in first place...the best game in town...
Maybe some high rollers will copy Opryland, place it here in the Shoals and call it Shoalsland...
An outlet mall in Florence??? One only has to look at Boaz and what's become of that existing outlet mall. The only outlet malls that are thriving (if you can even call it that) are the ones that are in big tourist areas (such as Foley or Gatlinburg) or those that are along a major Interstate. We have neither of those in Florence.
Athens or Decatur would be the ideal place for an Outlet Mall and/or a Bass Pro Shop like they plan to build in Decatur but of the two a Bass Pro Shop would be more understandable for the Shoals area than an outlet mall. If you develop anything a river walk with small novelty stores that would draw people to the river would be nice but not practical.
Athens or Decatur would be the ideal place for an Outlet Mall and/or a Bass Pro Shop like they plan to build in Decatur but of the two a Bass Pro Shop would be more understandable for the Shoals area than an outlet mall. If you develop anything a river walk with small novelty stores that would draw people to the river would be nice but not practical.
quote:Originally posted by SHELDIVR:quote:Originally posted by semiannualchick:quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means:
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
I agree!!! My family loved Opryland!!!!
We still to this day miss it.
Dollywood doesn't even run a close
second!!
...but with Opryland gone, Dollywood is in first place...the best game in town...
Maybe some high rollers will copy Opryland, place it here in the Shoals and call it Shoalsland...
If someone did this, and it was comparable in size/rides to Opryland, I would come home every weekend and some holidays.
Until then, grandma will just have to come and visit me....
quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means Well:quote:Originally posted by SHELDIVR:quote:Originally posted by semiannualchick:quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means:
My beloved Opryland USA was torn down by someone who had the bright idea to put in a crappy mall AND a Bass Pro Shop.
I agree!!! My family loved Opryland!!!!
We still to this day miss it.
Dollywood doesn't even run a close
second!!
...but with Opryland gone, Dollywood is in first place...the best game in town...
Maybe some high rollers will copy Opryland, place it here in the Shoals and call it Shoalsland...
If someone did this, and it was comparable in size/rides to Opryland, I would come home every weekend and some holidays.
Until then, grandma will just have to come and visit me....
Just like the Bass Pro Shop opportunity we let go to Decatur, our leadership lacks the vision and backbone to accept a venture toward growth because, as always, some risk comes with it. Remember, this is the same political model that took nearly 40 years to complete Highway 157.
SHELDIVR Bass Pro Shop was not an opportunity for this area. It never would have lasted here we are no where near a major interstate and everyone north of the state line goes to Nashville's. Not to mention Bass Pro wanted 14 million just to come here and that is just the tip of the iceberg. The Bass Pro building would have been built out there and in less than 10 years it would have been out of business. The do alot of the same thing Dick's Sporting Goods does when it comes to hunting and fishing equipment they buy and sell things that are on close out and they can sell them at low prices. It is usually the specials they run. Dick's is known for doing this and Bass Pro does it somewhat. Put something down there our children can use not a mall or themepark. Something that can help the area grow like a Big Civic Center to host events.
OH HELL NO!
Who would come to a civic center event in the Shoals, when there are bigger ones in Huntsville and Birmingham, with better infrastructure?
Every year in Huntsville, the MDA has a trade show, and it brings in thousands of people. They each spend about $2000 on hotel, meals, rental cars, and registration fees. And that's just one at VBCC. One of my employees is in Huntsville now at some system safety seminar. Seriously, what could the Shoals offer?
Every year in Huntsville, the MDA has a trade show, and it brings in thousands of people. They each spend about $2000 on hotel, meals, rental cars, and registration fees. And that's just one at VBCC. One of my employees is in Huntsville now at some system safety seminar. Seriously, what could the Shoals offer?
quote:Originally posted by Rock and Roll Means Well:
Now every mullet for miles comes to gawk at a bunch of fish in a pond and buy boots.
LOL!!!!! So true. I went there ONCE. What a laugh. It was like a mall in the north somewhere. No boutiques. Nothing cute. No cool shops. Just the same ol, same ol you could get at wally world. Cheap shoes, cheap clothes, and a sham-wow guy. And yes, it was full of mullets and stretch pants. I won't be back.
quote:Originally posted by zippadeedoodah:
Who would come to a civic center event in the Shoals, when there are bigger ones in Huntsville and Birmingham, with better infrastructure?
Every year in Huntsville, the MDA has a trade show, and it brings in thousands of people. They each spend about $2000 on hotel, meals, rental cars, and registration fees. And that's just one at VBCC. One of my employees is in Huntsville now at some system safety seminar. Seriously, what could the Shoals offer?
The Shoals cannot compete. The very idea of an outlet or any other type of major retail development is silly.
What the Shoals should focus on is sustaining what is there. Focus on sustaining what small base of jobs outside of retail/restaurant that is there. Bring a business or 2 into the vacant space in the industrial park. Realize that it will never be a destination for retail, concerts, etc..but can sustain itself as a small (commuter) college town and a few yearly festivals. You may call that cynical, but I call it realistic.
quote:Originally posted by joeycuda:quote:Originally posted by zippadeedoodah:
Who would come to a civic center event in the Shoals, when there are bigger ones in Huntsville and Birmingham, with better infrastructure?
Every year in Huntsville, the MDA has a trade show, and it brings in thousands of people. They each spend about $2000 on hotel, meals, rental cars, and registration fees. And that's just one at VBCC. One of my employees is in Huntsville now at some system safety seminar. Seriously, what could the Shoals offer?
The Shoals cannot compete. The very idea of an outlet or any other type of major retail development is silly.
What the Shoals should focus on is sustaining what is there. Focus on sustaining what small base of jobs outside of retail/restaurant that is there. Bring a business or 2 into the vacant space in the industrial park. Realize that it will never be a destination for retail, concerts, etc..but can sustain itself as a small (commuter) college town and a few yearly festivals. You may call that cynical, but I call it realistic.
I think you're right for the most part. I just wish there was a way to add some white collar jobs to the mix. There's an accredited school of business right here and the area could be sold as low cost low crime good family climate.
Also wonder if some medical research firms could be added. You know the firms that specialize in investigational drug studies. We seem to have large geriatric population use 'em.
quote:Originally posted by zippadeedoodah:
Who would come to a civic center event in the Shoals, when there are bigger ones in Huntsville and Birmingham, with better infrastructure?
Every year in Huntsville, the MDA has a trade show, and it brings in thousands of people. They each spend about $2000 on hotel, meals, rental cars, and registration fees. And that's just one at VBCC. One of my employees is in Huntsville now at some system safety seminar. Seriously, what could the Shoals offer?
I would come in a heartbeat because the Shoals has something no other area can offer, and that is the musical contributions that the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and Fame have made.
Not many cities can claim that artists like Aretha, Dylan, Percy Sledge, the Stones, the Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell, and more have recorded there or record there now.
THAT is why I would come to the Shoals, if I wasn't already from the area.
But most people have no freaking clue about all of that. And especially the people who live there.
It is important for so many reasons, but some people would rather stay clueless.
I say make some sort of huge music mecca. When I tell people in Nashville where I am from, they light up! And people actually know where the area is, and that is because of a) the legenary musicians that recorded there and still do b) WC Handy c) all of the popular lakes/rivers and scenery (aka THERE ARE NO BASS PRO SHOPS so you can escape from that sort of hellaciousness)
Anything else they don't really care about or mention.
Bass Pro Shops sucks! It is everything that I believe hell will be like. Sh*tty parking, overcrowding, coveralls, people gawking at fish like they've never seen any and throwing coins at them, camoflauge, and duck calls.
My own personal little hell.
If a Bass Pro ever comes to the Shoals, I will never ever spend another dollar in the area out of spite. It is everything that the Shoals should be against.
The place would completely shut down mom & pop stores who sell hunting and fishing gear and outdoor equipment.
It's the Wal-Mart of all things outdoors.
That's the advice I would give to whoever cared. Play to your strengths. Focus on the heritage of music. Try to draw people back to the shoals to record, play in various venues, have music schools, rock and roll camps, band camps...use your imagination. Leverage Helen Keller festival. Bass Pro Shop? Please. Minimum wage jobs, and transient tourist dollars would not stimulate the economy. A water park? People would visit once, and then what?
One of the biggest events the shoals ever has is the Trail of Tears motorcycle ride. How could you make that a better experience and encourage the participants to make a follow-up visit? Stick to the things you know.
One of the biggest events the shoals ever has is the Trail of Tears motorcycle ride. How could you make that a better experience and encourage the participants to make a follow-up visit? Stick to the things you know.
I enjoyed Opryland but we really enjoy shopping at Opry Mills. We were there a few weeks ago. We need better jobs here though to support more retail malls etc. I would LOVE to see the outlet stores here.
As for the advice to better the Trail of Tears, please.....no more circuses like that here. That will do about as much for this area as billing it as a retirement community does. It only makes our area even more unattractive to industry and young families who will stimulate the economy here. I don't shop Bass Pro shop but if we bring in some better jobs then it will support more retailers in the area. I agree also that a large water park or civic center would be GREAT. Tired of driving so far to see a good concert. About the only ones we ever have are old and tired country singers. Some new musical acts please!
As for the advice to better the Trail of Tears, please.....no more circuses like that here. That will do about as much for this area as billing it as a retirement community does. It only makes our area even more unattractive to industry and young families who will stimulate the economy here. I don't shop Bass Pro shop but if we bring in some better jobs then it will support more retailers in the area. I agree also that a large water park or civic center would be GREAT. Tired of driving so far to see a good concert. About the only ones we ever have are old and tired country singers. Some new musical acts please!